Start with the New Testament, and read about the life and times of Jesus Christ and the guys (and gals) who knew him. Watch for when he's teaching, and when he drops a line quoting some Old Testament text, look that up - explore the Old T from the New T, don't start reading the OT first. I swear the NT will get your curiosity up quick about the OT! But it's Christ that is relevant for me and you, here & now.

All the encouragement, guidelines and reassurance I've found has been within the pages of the Bible. So you don't think it's so cool, what then...

I'd ask you to take another look at it! The people I've met who really disregard it, do so based on a sermon they heard or the bad behavior of someone who professed to be a Christian. Few who reject it have actually read it.